Protocol for monitoring platelet inhibition

ABSTRACT

A hemostasis analyzer, such as the Thrombelastograph® (TEG®) hemostasis analyzer is utilized to measure continuously in real time, the hemostasis process from the initial fibrin formation, through platelet-fibrin interaction and lysis to generate blood hemostasis parameters. The measured blood hemostasis parameters permit evaluation of platelet inhibition therapy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/591,371 filed Jun. 9, 2000 entitled Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Anti-Platelet Agents, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/255,099, filed Feb. 22, 1999, entitled Method and Apparatus for Measuring Hemostasis, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,236, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a protocol for monitoring the efficacy of anti-platelet agents.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] Blood is the circulating tissue of an organism that carries oxygen and nutritive materials to the tissues and removes carbon dioxide and various metabolic products for excretion. Whole blood consists of a pale yellow or gray yellow fluid, plasma, in which are suspended red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

[0004] An accurate measurement of hemostasis, i.e., the ability of a patient's blood to coagulate and dissolve, in a timely and effective fashion is crucial to certain surgical and medical procedures. Accelerated (rapid) and accurate detection of abnormal hemostasis is also of particular importance in respect of appropriate treatment to be given to patients suffering from hemostasis disorders and to whom it may be necessary to administer anti-coagulants, antifibrinolytic agents, thrombolytic agents, anti-platelet agents, or blood components in a quantity which must clearly be determined after taking into account the abnormal components, cells or “factors” of the patient's blood which may be contributing to the hemostasis disorder.

[0005] Hemostasis is a dynamic, extremely complex process involving many interacting factors, which include coagulation and fibrinolytic proteins, activators, inhibitors and cellular elements, such as platelet cytoskeleton, platelet cytoplasmic granules and platelet cell surfaces. As a result, during activation, no factor remains static or works in isolation. Thus, to be complete, it is necessary to measure continuously all phases of patient hemostasis as a net product of whole blood components in a non-isolated, or static fashion. To give an example of the consequences of the measuring of an isolated part of hemostasis, assume that a patient developed fibrinolysis, which is caused by the activation of plasminogen into plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down the clot. In this scenario, a byproduct of this process of fibrinogen degrading product (FDP), which behaves as an anticoagulant. If the patient is tested only for anticoagulation and is treated accordingly, this patient may remain at risk due to not being treated with antifibrinolytic agents.

[0006] The end result of the hemostasis process is a three-dimensional network of polymerized fibrin(ogen) fibers which together with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) receptor bonding forms the final clot (FIG. 1). A unique property of this network structure is that it behaves as a rigid elastic solid, capable of resisting deforming shear stress of the circulating blood. The strength of the final clot to resist deforming shear stress is determined by the structure and density of the fibrin fiber network and by the forces exerted by the participating platelets.

[0007] Platelets have been shown to effect the mechanical strength of fibrin in at least two ways. First, by acting as node branching points, they significantly enhance fibrin structure rigidity. Secondly, by exerting a “tugging” force on fibers, by the contractability of platelet actomyosin, a muscle protein that is a part of a cytoskeleton-mediated contractibility apparatus. The force of this contractability further enhances the strength of the fibrin structure. The platelet receptor GPIIb/IIIa appears crucial in anchoring polymerizing fibers to the underlying cytoskeleton contractile apparatus in activated platelets, thereby mediating the transfer of mechanical force.

[0008] Thus, the clot that develops and adheres to the damaged vascular system as a result of activated hemostasis and resists the deforming shear stress of the circulating blood is, in essence a mechanical device, formed to provide a “temporary stopper,” that resists the shear force of circulating blood during vascular recovery. The kinetics, strength, and stability of the clot, that is its physical property to resist the deforming shear force of the circulating blood, determine its capacity to do the work of hemostasis, which is to stop hemorrhage without permitting inappropriate thrombosis. This is exactly what the Thrombelastograph® (TEG®) system, described below, was designed to measure, which is the time it takes for initial fibrin formation, the time it takes for the clot to reach its maximum strength, the actual maximum strength, and the clot's stability.

[0009] Hemostasis analyzer instruments have been known since Professor Helmut Hartert developed such a device in Germany in the 1940's. One type of hemostasis analyzer is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,227, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. This instrument, the TEG® hemostasis analyzer, monitors the elastic properties of blood as it is induced to clot under a low shear environment resembling sluggish venous blood flow. The patterns of changes in shear elasticity of the developing clot enable the determination of the kinetics of clot formation, as well as the strength and stability of the formed clot; in short, the mechanical properties of the developing clot. As described above, the kinetics, strength and stability of the clot provides information about the ability of the clot to perform “mechanical work,” i.e., resisting the deforming shear stress of the circulating blood; in essence, the clot is the elementary machine of hemostasis, and the TEG® analyzer measures the ability of the clot to perform mechanical work throughout its structural development. The TEG® system measures continuously all phases of patient hemostasis as a net product of whole blood components in a non-isolated, or static fashion from the time of test initiation until initial fibrin formation, through clot rate strengthening and ultimately clot strength through fibrin platelet bonding via platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors and clot lysis.

[0010] Platelets play a critical role in mediating ischemic complications in prothrombotic (thrombophilic) patients. The use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor agents in thrombophilic patients or as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is rapidly becoming the standard of care. Inhibition of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor is an extremely potent form of antiplatelet therapy that can result in reduction of risk of death and myocardial infarction, but can also result in a dramatic risk of hemorrhage. The reason for the potential of bleeding or non-attainment of adequate therapeutic level of platelet inhibition is the weight-adjusted platelet blocker treatment algorithm that is used in spite of the fact that there is considerable person-to-person variability. This is an issue in part due to differences in platelet count and variability in the number of GPIIb/IIIa receptors per platelet and their ligand binding functions.

[0011] Since the clinical introduction of the murine/human chimeric antibody fragment c7E3 Fab (abciximab, ReoPro®), several synthetic forms of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists have also been approved such as Aggrastatg (tirofiban) and Integrilin® (eptifibatide), resulting in widespread and increasing use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy in interventional cardiology procedures.

[0012] Before the introduction of the method and apparatus described in the afore-mentioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/591,371, there was no rapid, reliable, quantitative, point-of-care test for monitoring therapeutic platelet blockade. Although the turbidimetric aggregation test has been used to measure the degree of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade in small clinical studies and dose-finding studies, its routine clinical use for dosing GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonists in individual patients has not been feasible. Aggregation is time-consuming (more than one hour), expensive to run, requires specialized personnel for its performance, and is not readily available around the clock; therefore it cannot be employed at the point-of-care for routine patient monitoring and dose individualization. To be clinically useful, an assay of platelet inhibition must provide rapid and reliable information regarding receptor blockade at the bedside, thereby permitting dose modification to achieve the desired anti-platelet effect.

[0013] The turbidimetric aggregation test is based on the photometric principle, which monitors the change in the specimen's optical density. Initially, a minimal amount of light passes through the specimen, as functional platelets are activated by the turbidimetric test; platelet aggregation occurs via platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor and fibrin(ogen) bonding as illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus light transmission increases. When platelets are inhibited through GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade, light transmission increases proportionally.

[0014] Another commercially available system measures fibrinogen-platelet bonding using beads coated with a fixed amount of an outside source of “normal” fibrinogen. Therefore, this system uses a non-patient source of “normal” fibrinogen and cannot detect a patient in a prothrombotic state (hypercoagulable) due to a higher patient level of fibrinogen, or detect a hemorrhagic state (hypocoagulability) due to a low patient level of fibrinogen. Additionally, this system shows only bonding without detection of the breakdown of that bonding. Therefore, in the presence of thrombolysis, the assessment of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade by the system may not be accurate.

[0015] Fibrinogen-platelet GPIIb/IIIa bonding is the initial phase of platelet aggregation, or a primary hemostasis platelet plug, which goes on to form the final fibrin-platelet bonding. Thus it is not sufficient to measure only the initial stage of fibrinogen-platelet bonding, which may not accurately reflect final fibrin-platelet bonding via the GPIIb/IIIa receptor. While the turbidimetric and other photometric systems do detect initiation of platelet aggregation via fibrinogen-platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor bonding, it may not accurately reflect final fibrin-platelet bonding via the GPIIb/IIIa receptor.

[0016] Significant among the limitations of systems that use beads coated with “normal” fibrinogen is that this “normal” fibrinogen may not reflect either the quantity or the functionality of a specific patient's own fibrinogen. Therefore, fibrinogen-platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade as measured by such systems is but a rough estimate of the patient's individual fibrinogen-platelet GPIIb/IIIa blockade of the initial phase of platelet aggregation.

[0017] This is a significant limitation in certain high risk patient subgroups, which may need treatment with a platelet inhibition agent, may have a higher or lower level of fibrinogen and thus would need an accurate assessment of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade to reduce bleeding complications due to under assessment of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade, or ischemic events due to over assessment of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade. In addition, fibrinogen level and functionality may change during the trauma of interventional procedures. At this time it is imperative to make an accurate assessment of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade in real time, during and following the procedure.

[0018] Thus, there is a need for a method and apparatus for measuring the efficacy of anti-platelet agents, continuously and over the entire hemostasis process from initial clot formation through lysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is graphic illustration representing the mechanism of platelet aggregation.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hemostasis analyzer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a plot illustrating a hemostasis profile generated by the hemostasis analyzer shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] FIGS. 4-10 are schematic illustrations depicting platelet activation responsive to various agonist agents.

[0023]FIG. 11 illustrates several hemostasis profiles relating to the platelet activation described in connection with FIGS. 4-10.

[0024]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a hemostasis analyzer in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, a hemostasis analyzer, such as the Thrombelastograph® (TEG®) hemostasis analyzer available from Haemoscope Corp., Skokie, Ill., is utilized to measure continuously in real time, the hemostasis process from the initial fibrin formation, through platelet-fibrin GPIIb/IIIa bonding and lysis. While several specific anti-platelet agents are discussed herein in connection with the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated the invention has application in connection with virtually any anti-platelet agents. Moreover, it will be further appreciated that the invention has application for measuring the efficacy of coagulation enhancing or platelet activating agents.

[0026] In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, utilization of the hemostasis analyzer in accordance with the inventive protocol permits: confirmation of the attainment of therapeutic level of GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade; individualized dosing assessment to evaluate attainment of adequate GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade; individualized dosing assessment required to reach adequate GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade; illustration of the rate of diminishment of platelet inhibition or inhibition recovery after treatment with platelet-inhibition drugs; evaluation of the interaction effect of a combination of thrombolytic and platelet-inhibiting agents, on patient hemostasis.

[0027] The present invention may use a hemostasis analyzer 10, such as the Thrombelastograph® (TEG®) hemostasis analyzer referenced above, to measure the clot's physical properties. An exemplary hemostasis analyzer 10 is described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,126, and a complete discussion is not repeated here. With reference to FIG. 2, to assist in the understanding of the invention, however, a brief description of the hemostasis analyzer 10 is provided. The hemostasis analyzer uses a special stationary cylindrical cup 12 that holds a blood sample 13. The cup 12 is coupled to a drive mechanism that causes the cup to oscillate through an angle θ, preferably about 4° 45′. Each rotation cycle lasts 10 seconds. A pin 14 is suspended in the blood sample 13 by a torsion wire 15, and the pin 14 is monitored for motion. The torque of the rotating cup 12 is transmitted to the immersed pin 14 only after fibrin-platelet bonding has linked the cup 12 and pin 14 together. The strength of these fibrin-platelet bonds affects the magnitude of the pin motion, such that strong clots move the pin 14 directly in phase with the cup motion. Thus, the magnitude of the output is directly related to the strength of the formed clot. As the clot retracts or lyses, these bonds are broken and the transfer of cup motion is diminished.

[0028] The rotational movement of the pin 14 is converted by a transducer 16 to an electrical signal, which can be monitored by a computer (not shown in FIG. 2) including a processor and a control program.

[0029] The computer is operable on the electrical signal to create a hemostasis profile corresponding to the measured clotting process. Additionally, the computer may include a visual display or be coupled to a printer to provide a visual representation of the hemostasis profile. Such a configuration of the computer is well within the skills of one having ordinary skill in the art.

[0030] As will also be described, based upon an assessment of the hemostasis profile, the computer, through its control program, may be adapted to provide dosing recommendations. As shown in FIG. 3, the resulting hemostasis profile 20 is a measure of the time it takes for the first fibrin strand to be formed, the kinetics of clot formation, the strength of the clot (measured in millimeters (mm) and converted to shear elasticity units of dyn/cm²) and dissolution of clot. Table I, below, provides definitions for several of these measured parameters. TABLE I R R time is the period of time of latency from the time that the blood was placed in the TEG ® analyzer until the initial fibrin formation. α a measures the rapidity of fibrin build-up and cross-linking (clot strengthening) MA MA, or Maximum Amplitude in mm, is a direct function of the maximum dynamic properties of fibrin and platelet bonding via GPIIb/IIIa and represents the ultimate strength of the fibrin clot. LY30 LY30 measures the rate of amplitude reduction 30 minutes after MA and represents clot retraction, or lysis.

[0031] Clinically, these measurements provide a vehicle for monitoring anti-coagulation therapy (e.g. heparin or warfarin), thrombolytic therapy (e.g. tPA, streptokinase, urokinase), effect of antifibrinolytics (e.g. ε-amino-caproic acid (Amicar®), trasylol (aprotinin), tranexamic acid (TX)), effect of anti-platelet agents (e.g. abciximab (ReoPro®), eptifibatide (Integrilin®), tirofiban (Aggrastat®), blood component transfusion therapy, thrombotic risk assessment in cancer and infection, high risk surgery and other conditions which could possibly lead to excessive clotting (hypercoagulable conditions) or excessive bleeding (hypocoagulable conditions). In accordance with the invention then, the hemostasis analyzer 10 is useful in testing the clinical efficacy of drug therapy to stop fibrinolysis, or the efficacy of thrombolytic drugs to monitor thrombolysis, efficacy of anti-platelet agents to monitor platelet inhibition, ischemic or bleeding complications.

[0032] Quantitatively, the hemostasis analyzer 10 and associated computer plot the strength of the clot against time, where the onset of clot formation, the reaction time (R), is noted (FIG. 3). This plot also indicates the maximum clot strength (or rigidity), MA, of a blood sample. MA is an overall estimate of platelet-fibrin GPIIb/IIIa bonding, which is used, for example, to guide post-operative blood platelet or fibrinogen replacement therapy. Between platelets and fibrin alone, an abnormally low MA implies that there is an abnormality in blood platelets (i.e., a quantitative or functional defect) and/or an abnormality in fibrinogen content in the blood. However, by keeping fibrinogen level and platelet number constant, any change in MA would reflect changes in platelet function. Therefore, by testing the same blood sample two ways, one with an anti-platelet agent and one without, the difference between the two MAs reflects the effect of the anti-platelet agent on platelet function.

[0033] Platelets play a critical role in mediating ischemic complications resulting in stroke and myocardial infarction. Inhibition of platelet function by anti-platelet agents (platelet-blocker drugs) such as aspirin, the antibody fragment c7E3 Fab, abciximab (ReoPro®), or clopidogrel, (Plavix®), can result in a dramatic reduction in the risk of death, myocardial infarction, or reocclusion after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy (IATT). Administration of excessive amounts of anti-platelet agents could lead to life-threatening bleeding. Therefore, a precise estimate of platelet function inhibition in a given patient is very important for the monitoring of the drug therapy because of the narrow risk/therapeutic ratio with this class of drugs.

[0034] Using the above strategy, which keeps fibrinogen level and platelet number constant, it is possible to properly administer and monitor anti-platelet agents or modify their dosages, or to measure the contribution of fibrin to MA (MA_(FIB)) and by subtraction to measure the pure contribution of platelets to MA (MA_(P)) as MA_(P)=MA−MA_(FIB).

[0035] Therefore, in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, to properly monitor anti-platelet agents, the following procedure is followed:

[0036] 1. The hemostasis analyzer 10, as it is commonly used, measures platelet function (MA or MA_(P)) that is stimulated by thrombin, a potent platelet activator that directly activates the GPIIb/IIIa receptor site. To sensitize MA or MA_(P) to a small inhibition of platelet function, platelet function should be activated by a less potent platelet activator than thrombin, such as ADP that indirectly activates the GPIIb/IIIa receptor site. Therefore, when running blood samples in the hemostasis analyzer 10 in this instance, formation of thrombin is inhibited with, for example, sodium citrate, heparin, herudin, etc., and ADP is used instead to activate the platelet function.

[0037] 2. Unfortunately, thrombin is also involved in activating fibrinogen to fibrin conversion. Having inhibited thrombin formation in step 1, it is necessary to use another enzyme to activate fibrinogen. Reptilase, whose sole function is to activate the fibrinogen to fibrin conversion, is a suitable enzyme. The clot is now stimulated by reptilase (fibrinogen activation) and ADP (platelet activation). The strength of the clot is measured by MA, and the contribution of platelet function to the strength of the clot is measured by MA_(P), as described above.

[0038] 3. The clot that is formed by a fibrinogen activator like reptilase and a platelet activator like ADP is typically weaker than one developed by thrombin. Therefore, the torsion wire 15 described above may be selected to be sensitive to a weaker clot and to be able to measure the changes in MA and MA_(P) due to the small effect of anti-platelet agents such as ReoPro®. Alternatively, activated Factor XIII (Factor XIIIa) may be added. Factor XIIIa causes a modification of the fibrin-platelet bonding from hydrogen bonding to stronger covalent bonding, enhancing clot strength.

[0039] Based on the above, the following protocol may be implemented:

[0040] 1. Torsion wire modification of the hemostasis analyzer 10 as necessary: by producing different strength torsion wires for various sensitivities to shear force to adequately measuring the effects of anti-platelet agents of various potencies may be measured. The sensitivity of the torsion wire is generally related to its gauge. For increased sensitivity, torsion wires having gauges to sense clot sensitivity in a range from about 150 to about 1000 dyn/cm² are suitable for adaptation to the hemostasis analyzer described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,236.

[0041]2. Reptilase-triggered agonist-activated blood sample: Batroxabin (reptilase, Pentapharm) would be used (15 μl of reconstituted reptilase reagent) and pre-added to the cup 12 to activate fibrinogen to fibrin. In addition to the Batroxabin, ADP (20 μM final concentration) would be pre-added to the cup 12 along with 10 μl of Factor XIIIa. 340 μl of thrombin inhibited (e.g., citrated, heparinized, etc.) whole blood would be added to the prewarmed cup 12 containing Batroxabin, ADP and Factor XIIIa, and maximal clot strength would be assessed. In addition, a control sample, resulting in complete inhibition of the platelet contribution the clot strength (MA_(FIB)), would also be performed with Batroxabin and an anti-platelet agent being added to the cup 12, providing a measure of the contribution of fibrin in the absence of the augmenting effect of platelets to clot strength.

[0042] MA_(PB) is measured before the patient is treated with the anti-platelet agent and MA_(PA) is measured after treatment. Platelet inhibition due to the drug effect will be computed as follows:

MA _(PB) =MA _(B) −MA _(FIB)

MA _(PA) =MA _(A) −MA _(FIB)

Drug inhibition=MA _(PB) −MA _(PA)

[0043] It will be appreciated by those having skill in the art that measuring clot strength as described above may require a torsion wire that is sensitive to the typically weaker clot formed under conditions of thrombin inhibition. However, different testing protocols may look to clots having strengths in ranges equal to or greater than typical thrombin supported clots. In such cases the torsion wire 15 will be selected to be sensitive to such stronger clots. Torsion wires of several gauges providing a range of sensitivities from about 100 dyn/cm² to 25,000 dyn/cm² therefore may be utilized.

[0044] It should be further appreciated that the invention has application to measuring other parameters of clot formation. For example, the hemostasis analyzer 10 measures the blood clotting process from the time of test initiation until the initial fibrin formation, through clot rate strengthening, and clot lysis. Therefore, in accordance in the invention, it is possible to measure the effect of the presence of heparin by evaluating the R parameter, which as described above indicates the inhibition in initial fibrin formation. It is also possible to measure the efficacy of drug therapy on thrombolytic activity by observing the parameter LY30, which indicates the rate of clot lysis.

[0045] It is well-documented that there is considerable person-to-person variability in the number of GPIIb/IIIa receptors per platelet and its ligand binding function. Furthermore, variable inhibition of GPIIb/IIIa function, in part due to the differences in platelet count, may occur after administration of a fixed, weight-adjusted dose of a platelet blocker. Higher risk patient subgroups, such as diabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA), may require greater doses of platelet inhibition than is currently being attained after weight-adjusted platelet blocker therapy, which at this time is not individualized to assure the attainment of adequate GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockade. The potential for hemorrhagic or ischemic events suggests the need for individualized assessment and projecting of needed dosing to assure the attainment of a therapeutic level of receptor blockade, in real time. The apparatus and method in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention provides this capability.

[0046] In contrast to direct platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor inhibition agents, Plavix® (clopidogrel) is a platelet adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist, inhibiting a class of ADP receptors mediating activation of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors. Plavix® is taken orally, usually in the form of a loading dose of four 75 mg tablets followed by long-term therapy of one 75 mg tablet per day prior to and after PTCA or for patients at high risk for ischemic events. The Plavix® algorithm dictates the same dosing regardless of patient weight or hemostatic profile. Consequently, treatment with Plavix® can result in increased bleeding or lack of attainment of an adequate therapeutic level of platelet inhibition. Therefore, there is a need to prescribe and monitor individualized dosing of both platelet GPIIb/IIIa and ADP receptor inhibition (PI) agents.

[0047] Another platelet agonist is Thromboxane A₂ (TxA₂) which activates the Thromboxane A₂ receptor. Once Thromboxane A₂ receptors are activated, they mediate the activation of GPIIb/IIIa receptors. Cyclooxygenase is the enzyme necessary in the production of Thromboxane A₂, and is inhibited by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

[0048] The result of the activated coagulation protein is the fibrin strand which, together with activated platelets at GPIIb/IIIa, forms fibrin(ogin) platelet bonding to produce the final clot. Therefore for platelet fibrin(ogin) bonding to occur or to take place platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors have to be activated. Therefore platelet agonists are constructed toward activation of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor directly, as by thrombin, or indirectly as by ADP and Thromboxane A₂. Consequently platelet inhibitor drugs are specifically targeted towards inhibiting these agonists as illustrate in FIGS. 4-10.

[0049] With reference to FIGS. 4-10, A platelet 30 has a GPIIb/IIIa receptor site 32, an ADP receptor site 34 and a TxA₂ receptor site 36. As shown in FIG. 4, addition of ADP agonist activates the ADP receptor site 34 (illustrated by arrow 38), which activates the GPIIb/IIIa receptor site (illustrated by arrow 40). A platelet adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist, such as Plavix®, inhibits the ADP receptor site 34 (phantom arrow 42 in FIG. 5), and thus the GPIIb/IIIa site is not activated in response to the presence of he ADP agonist (phantom arrow 44). Therefore, in the presence of an ADP receptor antagonist, an ADP agonist only activates platelets that are not inhibited. The result is a reduction in clot strength, illustrated as the tracing MA_(pi) in FIG. 11 as compared to the clot strength with complete platelet activation illustrated as the tracing MA_(kh) in FIG. 11.

[0050] ReoPro®, Integrilin®, and Aggrastat® inhibit the GPIIb/IIIa receptor 32 directly. When the ADP agonist is added, it activates the ADP receptor 34 (arrow 46 in FIG. 6) but is stopped at the GPIIb/IIIa receptor (phantom arrow 48). Therefore, in the presence of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, only the non-inhibited platelets will be activated by the ADP agonist resulting in correspondingly reduced clot strength, e.g., MA_(pi) illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0051] Thromboxane A₂ activates the platelet TxA₂ receptor 36 (arrow 50 in FIG. 7), which in turn activates the GPIIb/IIIa receptor 32 (arrow 52). Arachidonic acid (AA) is a precursor to Thromboxane A₂ and is converted to Thromboxane A₂ in the presence of Cyclooxygenase. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) inhibits Cyclooxygenase (phantom arrow 54 in FIG. 8), and thus the GPIIb/IIIa site is also not activated in the presence of a TxA₂ agonist (phantom arrow 56) resulting in a corresponding reduction in clot strength, e.g., MA_(pi) in FIG. 11. Therefore an AA platelet agonist can only activate the GPIIb/IIIa site 32 when NSAID is not taken.

[0052] Thrombin is the enzyme that cleaves soluble fibrinogen into fibrin strands. It is also the most potent platelet activator, strongly and directly increasing the expression and activation of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors (arrow 58 in FIG. 9). ReoPro®, Integrilin®, and Aggrastat® agents inhibit GPIIb/IIIa receptors responsive to ADP or TxA₂ agonsits; however, thrombin will still result in GPIIb/IIIa activation (arrow 60 in FIG. 10). Certain hemostasis assays, such as the above-referenced TEG® assay, may be arranged to produce thrombin in the process of clot formation. The increased expression and strong activation of platelet GPIIb/IIIa by thrombin overcomes the GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors to provide a full platelet activation clot strength (MA_(kh) in FIG. 11).

[0053] With the foregoing discussion, it is therefore possible to further specify a protocol for monitoring platelet inhibitors, such as GPIIb/IIIa, ADP and Thromboxane A₂ platelet inhibitors. Referring to FIG. 12, an apparatus 10′ may include a plurality of hemostasis analysis devices, such as the hemostasis analyzer 10 shown in FIG. 2, and four are shown as devices 10 a, 10 b, 10 c and 10 d, to respectively test corresponding blood samples 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and 13 d.

[0054] A first sample 13 a of heparinized whole blood is prepared and loaded into the first hemostasis analyzer 10 a. A fibrin activator 17, such as a combination of Reptilase and Factor XIIIa, is added to the sample cup 12. The activator 17 may be pre-added to the sample cup 12 or the cup 12 may be treated with the activator 17. Alternatively, the activator 17 may be added to the blood sample 13 a after it is added to the cup 12. About 10 μl of activator 17 is added to a 340 μl blood sample. The assay is completed and the resulting clot strength is measured. This clot strength may be referred to as MA_(f), as it represents only the contribution of fibrin with substantially no platelet activation in view of the absence of any platelet agonist.

[0055] A second sample 13 b of heparinized whole blood is prepared and is loaded into the second hemostasis analyzer 10 b. It should be noted that the a single cell hemostasis analyzer may be used serially for each of the assays, more than one single cell analyzer may be used, or multi-cell analyzers may be used. For example, the TEG® hemostasis analyzer in standard configuration has two testing cells, which may operate simultaneously. Two TEG® hemostasis analyzers may be used to perform each of the four assays according to this exemplary protocol or one TEG® hemostasis analyzer may be used. Moreover, the two TEG® hemostasis analyzers may be networked, making in essence a single four cell testing device.

[0056] For the second sample 13 b, the activator 17 is added to the sample, and an ADP agonist 18 is also added in appropriate proportion to the second sample 13 b. For example, 20 μM of ADP agonist may be added to a 340 μl second sample of heparinized whole blood. The assay is completed and the resulting clot strength is measured. This clot strength may be referred to as MA_(pi1), as it represents the contributions of fibrin and platelets uninhibited by any administered ADP platelet inhibition agents.

[0057] A third sample 13 c of heparinized whole blood is prepared and is loaded into a third hemostasis analyzer 10 c. The fibrin activator 17 added to sample 13 c, and a Thromboxane A₂ agonist 19 is added in appropriate proportion to the third sample 13 c. For example, 10 μl of Arachidonic Acid (AA) may be added to a 340 μl third sample of heparinized whole blood. The assay is completed and the resulting clot strength is measured. This clot strength may be referred to as MA_(pi2), as it represents the contributions of fibrin and platelets uninhibited by administered TxA₂ platelet inhibition agents.

[0058] A fourth sample 13 d of heparinized whole blood is prepared and is loaded into a fourth hemostasis analyzer 10 d. For the fourth sample 13 d, heparinase 21 and kaolin 22 are used to neutralize the effect of the heparin in the fourth sample 13 d. The assay is completed and the resulting clot strength is measured. This clot strength may be referred to as MA_(kh), and it measures the maximum MA with platelet activation due to the use of heparinase and kaolin to neutralize the heparin in the sample 13 d and to enable the production of thrombin which activates the GPIIb/IIIa receptors.

[0059] The value MA_(pi)−MA_(f) measures the unique contributions of the uninhibited platelets by PI agents where platelet inhibition can be by administration of Reopro®, Aggrastat®, Integrilin®, ADP and NSAIDs. A percentage reduction in MA due to platelet inhibition is then calculated for each of MA_(pi1) and MA_(pi2) according the equation:

Percent Platelet Activation=[(MA _(pij) −MA _(f))/MA_(kh) −MA _(f))]*100,

[0060] where the value MA_(kh)−MA_(f) measures the unique contributions of the fully activated platelets. Thus, the medical practitioner may observe the effect of platelet inhibition therapy, isolated into component effects, and make dosing recommendations accordingly. Alternatively, percent platelet inhibition may be determined as 100-[(MA_(pij)−MA_(f))/MA_(kh)−MA_(f))]*100.

[0061] It will be appreciated that the sample cups 12 in the foregoing assays may be prepared in advance to contain the appropriate agents in accordance with the foregoing described protocol. In that regard, the sample cups may be color coded to identify the particular agents contained within the cup. Sets of sample cups 12 may be packaged to facilitate the assays. Still further, the agent materials, e.g., the activator 17, may be distributed in color coded vials for ease of identification and for loading into the sample cups 12 either before or after the corresponding blood sample is loaded into the sample cup.

[0062] The invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from its fair scope, which is set forth in the subjoined claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of evaluating a platelet therapy comprising: testing a first blood sample to determine a first blood sample characteristic in the substantial absence of platelet activation; testing a second blood sample to determine a second blood sample characteristic in the presence of an anti-platelet therapy; testing a third blood sample to determine a third blood sample characteristic in the presence of substantially uninhibited platelet activation; and determining a parameter indicative of the efficacy of the anti-platelet therapy based upon the first, second and third blood sample characteristics.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises a percentage of platelet activation.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first blood sample characteristic represents a fibrin contribution to hemostasis.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second blood sample characteristic represents a contribution to hemostasis of activated platelets in the presence of an anti-platelet therapy.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third blood sample characteristic represents a contribution to hemostasis of substantially complete platelet activation.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of testing a first blood sample comprises preparing the first blood sample with a fibrin activator.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fibrin activator comprises at least one of the group of fibrin activators comprising: reptilase and Factor XIIIa.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of testing a second blood sample comprises preparing the second blood sample with an ADP site activator.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ADP activator comprises an ADP agonist.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of testing a second blood sample comprises preparing the second blood sample with a Thromboxane A₂ site activator.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the Thromboxane A2 site activator comprises arachidonic acid.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of testing the third blood sample comprises preparing the third blood sample to neutralize anticoagulation therapy.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of preparing the third blood sample to neutralize anticoagulation therapy comprises administering at least one of kaolin and heparinase.
 14. The method of claim 1, comprising substantially simultaneously testing the first, second and third blood sample.
 15. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a first, second and third hemostasis analyzer, and simultaneously testing the first, second and third blood sample.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first, second and third hemostasis analyzer comprise first, second and third testing cells of a single hemostasis analyzer.
 17. An apparatus for evaluating a platelet therapy comprising: a first hemostasis testing cell for testing a first blood sample to determine a first blood sample characteristic in the substantial absence of platelet activation; a second hemostasis testing cell for testing a second blood sample to determine a second blood sample characteristic in the presence of platelet inhibition therapy; and a third hemostasis testing cell for testing a third blood sample to determine a third blood sample characteristic in the presence of substantially uninhibited platelet activation, wherein the first, second and third blood sample characteristics are indicative of the efficacy of the platelet therapy.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, the first, second and third testing cells comprising first, second and third testing cells of a single testing apparatus. 